Bustle



(No Model.)

J. C. BETTEN.

BUSTLE.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN O. BETTEN, OF EUREKA SPRINGS, ARKANSAS.

BUSTLE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No.362,055, dated May 3, 1887.

Application filed October 19, 1886. Serial No. 216,667.

To all whom it may concern..-

Be it known that l, JOHN O. BETTEN, a eitizen of the United States, residing at Eureka Springs, in the county of Carroll and State of Arkansas, have invented a new and useful lmprovement in Bustles, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in bristles, and it consists of the peculiar combination and novel construction and arrangement of the several parts for service, substantially as hereinafter fully described, and particularly pointed out in the claims.

The primary object of my invention is to provide an improved bustleV which shall more effectively support and uphold the clothing of the wearer and give the same a neat appearance, which shall be free from steel or other `metallic substances, to thereby obviate the annoyance of soiling the wearers linen and apparel, and which can be readily washed or cleansed without destroying the device.

A further object of my invention is to provide an improved bustle which shall possess superior advantages over others which have preceded it in points of simplicity and durability of construction and cheapness of manufacture.

In the drawings hereto annexed, which illustrate a bustle embodying my improvements, Figure l is a top plan View. Fig. 2 is a side elevation. Fig. 3 is a vertical cross-sectional View on the line x .fr of Fig. l. Fig. 4L is a vertical longitudinal sectional View on the line g/ y of Fig. l. i

Referring to the drawings, in which like letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the iignres, A designates a series of divided rings, which are made of rubber or other like flexible material. The rings are arranged in a vertical position and in the are of a circle, and the ring or rings at the middle of the series are of greater diameter than those at the ends of the series, the diameters of the rings from the middle toward the ends of the bustle being gradually decreased or lessened. Thus, for instance, the diameters of the two rings on opposite sides of the middle ring of the series are of equal size and less than the diameter of the said middle ring, the diameter of the second pair of rings on opposite sides of (No model.)

the middle being also equal to each other and less than the first ring next to the middle one, and so on throughout the series. `The bustle is thus enlarged or bulged outwardly at its middle and gradually reduced and tapered toward the ends, as clearly shown. The series of flexible rings are housed or inclosed within a sheath or jacket, B, which is caused to assume the bulged and tapered form of the bustle. This sheath or jacket is of any suitable textile fabric or oth er preferred material which will withstand washing, and it is cut and shaped so as to snugly inclose the rings, and thereby protect the same from damage and from insects, which are attracted by the material of which the rings are composed.

The sheathis left open on its inner side, and the edges thereof are suitably connected together by any preferred form of fastening device-as, for instance, cyelet-holes c may be formed or provided in the edges of the sheath and lacing-cords C passed through the said eyelets, and thereby securely connect the edges of the sheath to completely conceal the rings therein.

D designates the binding or securing band or` strip, that retains the flexible divided rings in their proper relative position, so 'that the necessary yielding or flexible movement is permitted to the device. v

rl`he binding or securing band is inclosed within the sheath or jacket and over the inner peripheries of the divided iiexible rings, and the rings are held in place by means of rows of stitches d d', which are formed through the binding-band andthe jacket and on opposite sides of the rings, these stitches CZ el being arranged on opposite sides of each ring. The binding-strip extends entirely across the inner side of the sheath or jacket, or nearly so, and it is entirely concealed from View thereby; and the stitches d d also extend across the jacket and binding-strip D, as shown.

It will thus be seen that. the iiexible rings are not directly connectedor secured to the jacket or bindingstrip, and therefore the strength of the said rings is not impaired by perforating or breaking the same in any manner, thereby materially adding to the strength of the structure and increasing the durability thereof, while at the same time the said rings I OO are very securely held in place and permitted to have the necessary freedom of mbvement by connecting the sheath and binding-band by the rows of stitches on opposite sides of the rings.

F Fdesignate the suspending bands or straps, which are secured to the opposite reduced ends of the inelosing sheath or jacket. These straps are to be passed around the waist of the wearer,

1G and the free ends thereof are connected together by a suitable device-as, for instance, a buckle.

The operation of my invention will be reade ily understood from the foregoing description, taken in connection with the drawings.

The suspending-bands are passed around the wearers waist, drawn taut, and connected together. The inclosing sheath or jacket is thus drawn upon to take out the creases and 2O slack therein and tightly stretch that portion thereof between the rings, and also cause the latter` to assume a vertical position. By thus causing the rings to assume their proper vertical positions and stretching` the portions of the sheath or jacket between the rings and drawing the same taut, the clothing of thc wearer is more properly supported and upheld, and thereby insures a much neater appearance thereto.

Vhen it is desired to wash the sheath after it has become soiled and dirty through use and exposure, thc lacing-cords are removed,v

and the flexible rings are then taken out by turning them around so that the ends can be slipped out ofthe binding-strip.

rlhe sheath or jacket, with the attached binding-bands and the rings, Acan be washed and cleansed without injury, and the several parts readily replaced and put together again 4o by the owner, thus saving the cost of a new bustle.

It will be observed that I wholly dispense with the use of metallic rods and other fixtures, so that the original form and strength of the rings is preserved to increase the durability of the bustle. By thus dispensing with the rods and other metal fixings the bustle can be more readily and closely folded and compressed together to occupy but a small space 5o in packing large numbers of .the same within a, very small space for storage and transportation, it more readily and closely accommodates itself to the shape and size of the person, and the linen or apparel ofthe wearer is not soiled and stained. A

I attach especial importance to the divided rings,'which are inclosed within the sheath or jacket and are held in proper position therein independently of any devices for securing them directly to thejaeket or each other, as I am thereby enabled to readily and easily remove the entire series of rings, so that the sheath can be laundered with facility. This object is very desirable, in view ot' the fact that the jackets soon become soiled and dirty.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claimI as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. A bustle comprising an inclosing sheath orjacket and a series of removable divided rings wholly inclosed within the sheath and having the free ends thereof brought together, to thereby form substantially a complete circle, the said rings being entirely disconnected from the means employed to hold the rings in place, whereby they can be expeditiously removed from the sheath and leave the latter intact, as set forth.

2. A bustle comprising a suitable sheath or jacket, a series of complete separate pockets on the inner side of the sheath, and a series of removable divided rings whollyinclosed within the sheath and removably titted in the pockcts,to beheld in position thereby, the free ends of each ring being entirely disconnected from the sheath or pocket and terminating in close proximity to each other, as and for the purpose set forth.

8. A bustle comprising a sheath or jacket having the means for detachably connecting the meeting edges of the sheath together, to thereby close the same and form substantially a circle in crosssection, a series of separate pockets on the inner side of the sheath, and a series of divided removable rings fitted in the pockets, the ends of the rings being broughty together when the sheath is closed,as set forth.

et. A bustle comprising a jacket or sheath having an open side, a continuous bindingband secured to the inner side o f the jacket and forming a series of pockets, and a series of rings removably fitted in the pockets, as and for the purpose described.

5. A bustle comprising a sheath, aeontinuous binding-band secured to the inner sidesof the sheath and having a series of transverse pockets between the sheath and binding-band, a series of divided rings removably fitted in the pockets, and the suspendingbands connected to the ends ofthe sheath, as and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixed my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOHN C. BETTEN.

fitnesscsz XV. F. VVrLrrs, IV. O. BETTEN.

IOO

IOS k1 rio 

